NBA Rule; Out of Bounds

[alibaba]

I don't k now if this is worthy of its own thread, but it's a question that I suspect others have as well.

Simple question... is it automatically considered out of bounds if the ball hits the top/side/bottom of the backboard? Tonight I was playing ball with some friends, and it so happened that the ball hit the top and bounced over the other side of the backboard but my teammate caught it before it hit the ground (while keep his feet in bounds). After arguing about it for a few minutes, my team was given possession. This has been a rule that we've argued about since we were kids and I'd really like to get it cleared up.

I was always under the impression that the entire backboard was in and it was only out if the ball hit the shot clock or landed out of bounds. Is this right? Can someone clear this up for me, and provide evidence that I can show to my boys?

[theGreatRC]

It's out of bounds if it goes over the top of the backboard.

[GenericUsername]

Section II-Ball
a. The ball is out-of-bounds when it touches a player who is out-of-bounds or any other person, the floor, or any object on, above or outside of a boundary or the supports or back of the backboard.
b. Any ball that rebounds or passes directly behind the backboard, in either direction, from any point is considered out-of-bounds.

http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_8.htm ... rticleList

According to this. It can hit the backboard, but cannot hit the shot clock or supports. As long as it's not completely behind the backboard and not hitting anything else it's fine but once it is fully behind the backboard, it's out.

[Crooked-I]

Not out. If he catches it inbounds and it doesn't hit the supports it's not out. And if people argue....ball never lies

[OzThunder]

to put it in simple terms, the front, top, bottom and sides of the backboards are considered inbounds. So for it to be out it has to hit the shotclock (or shotclock supports) or any part of the frame holding the backboard up, or the back of the glass (which you'd have to be shooting from behind it to hit). So if you simply imagine the backboard as a floating sheet of glass, its all good unless it hits the back. Any part of the frame is out.

It's out of bounds if it goes over the top of the backboard.

technically if it goes over the board and doesn't touch any frame, and the player who rebounds the ball is still inbounds, play continues. I've seen it happen when the ball goes short off the front rim, goes up high and clears the board, missing the shotclock and framing and being rebounded.

edit: perhaps i'm thinking international rules, cause i just read this

b. Any ball that rebounds or passes directly behind the backboard, in either direction, from any point is considered out-of-bounds.

(thought that makes me wonder....because i've seen a few shots in the last couple of seasons where people shot it over the backboard, which technically would be "behind the backboard (from either direction)".